Lawrence Countian Greg O’Rear was a legendary Tennessee lawman who is remembered almost as much for his extraordinary stature as he is for his extraordinary career.

O’Rear served in the Tennessee Highway Patrol in many capacities in the mid- and late-twentieth century, culminating in his appointment as state safety commissioner.

O’Rear met many famous and infamous people through his law enforcement career, from politicians to celebrities to assassins. In this photo, O’Rear (white hat, foreground) is seen escorting Elvis Presley away from the state capital on March 8, 1961, after the king of rock ‘n roll addressed the Tennessee legislature and was made an honorary colonel in the Tennessee National Guard.